Two years on from when Swansea’s West Pier was virtually destroyed by Storm Dennis, the structure has risen phoenix-like from the ashes of February 2020.
And, thanks to a raft of temporary works designed by HBPW, the project completed by GRAHAM Group, has been brought to successful completion.
West Pier, near the Tawe barrage, was already in a state of disrepair with its timber and concrete inner wall crumbling, when Storm Dennis did its worst and finished off what time had started.
Senior Partner, Paul Withers, said: “The pier plays an important part in preventing coastal erosion in the City of Swansea.
“Part of the pier provides wave protection to the navigation channel and the Tawe Barrage. It also holds the beach area to the west of the pier in its current position and, without this structure, there could be the loss of beach material and flood and coastal erosion issues along the coastal frontage west of the pier.
“When we were asked to produce the temporary works for the piling gates, form work and various concrete works, I appreciated that this would be a milestone project for local people.
“We designed various piling gates, as well as other temporary works, so that the core work could proceed including the construction of a new quay wall. Once again ‘temporary works’ have played a key role in making an important project come to fruition.
“And as I have always maintained, temporary works, are not only a specialist area of engineering, but absolutely vital in so many different engineering environments.
“This reconstruction will benefit the City of Swansea and the local community as well as ensuring the security of marine access to the marina whilst protecting navigation.”
Client: Associated British Ports
Contractor: GRAHAM Group